Have you ever felt like our prayers are somehow meant to be a persuasive argument to change God’s mind? That through our passion and zeal, you and I could somehow convince God to give us something He has not already planned to provide? These thoughts may have been reinforced by the words of Jesus in John 14:13-14, where Jesus promises to do whatever we ask in His name. However, if we look closer at what Jesus meant by “in my name,” we will discover a more profound and powerful truth.
Unfortunately, this verse has often been misinterpreted as validating the belief that God is obligated to grant our every request like a cosmic genie if we simply tack on the phrase “in Jesus’ name.” Simply “slap my name on it, and I’ll do it,” like naming rights we see on stadiums and arenas. But that’s not what Jesus was saying. He wasn’t promoting a “name it and claim it” mentality, where we try to manipulate God into giving us what we want by saying the right words in a particular order. Instead, He was/is teaching us to align our will with the divine will so that we can receive the desires of our hearts in accordance with God’s perfect plan for us.
In essence, prayer is not about changing God’s mind but transforming our hearts. We are called to align our will with God’s will, as revealed through the Scriptures and our hearts. While God has not revealed every detail of the plans for us, the divine has given us enough guidance to point us in the right direction. By seeking to match our desires with His, we position ourselves to receive the blessings She has always been willing to give us. And these blessings, aligned with our God’s eternal plan, are truly what is best for us in every situation. From healing and provision to peace and guidance, we can trust [have faith] that God’s will for us is perfect and good
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” James 5:16